Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-06-02
The BRAZILIAN PEOPLE.
What Lieutenant Barnes, q. s. N, Saw In
Rio de Jaueiro.

Rio de Janeiro.
Two things will particularly attract
the notice of visitor to Rio, the street
illumination and the street cars or
bonds, as they are called. because the
bonds issued to pay for them have
never been redeemed. The gas lamps
are unusually numerous in all parts of
the city, and their lines extend even to
the most remote suburbs. The Santa
Theresa walk, which has not building
upon it save an uncompleted hospital,
has gas lamps at intervals of about
| fifty yards for its whole length. This
seemed so surprising made inquiry in
regard to it. and received satisfactory
explanation. The contract for estab-
fishing the plant for illuminating the
| city by gas was given to an American,
and he was to be paid q certain
amount per lamp, therefore he put in
as many lamps as an elastic conscience
| would permit. The result is Rio is one
of the best lighted cities in the world.
The street cars are noticeable for
their number, their long routes, their
different sizes, the rapid rate at which
they travel and the fact that they are
drawn by mules instead of horses;
mules are used for all draught pur-
poses, horses only for riding. Mules
draw the heaviest trucks and the finest
carriages. 1 saw long funeral process
sion in which every vehicle, hearse in
Guided, was drawn by mules, and they
did not look ungainly either. The
mule when well kept and groomed
makes very good appearance.
The eradication of little prejudice
makes a great difference in an appre-
citation of animals, and even of
our fellow men. have known many
instances of people who were neglect
ed and summed by others in the COM
munity, and who went to the dogs, but
might have made worthy, respected
citizens had they received little at
tention and encouragement feed
and careful grooming. The street cars
are all open like our summer cars, and
have the same arrangement for ringing
up fares, and signal gongs. They are
of two widths, one that to which we
are accustomed, the other very narrow,
not more than two-thirds as great.
On some streets both kinds of cars
run on the same route, third line of
rails being laid for the purpose. no
ticed one feature which might perhaps
be advantageously introduced into
some of our cities, cars for transport
ing freight, some closed and some
mere platform. / could not see that
they interfered with travel at all, but
they seem to be well patronized, and
are regarded as great convenience.
The Brazilians seem to be a badly
mixed people. The Portuguese, negro
and Indian elements have been shaken
up together until each has lost its in
dividuality by absorbing characteristics
of the others. did not see an indi-
! vidual of either race that 1 could I'M
hesitatingly pronounce of pure blood.
The universal custom of gathering
at the windows and in the bal
comics toward evening afforded an
excellent opportunity for observ-
ing these peculiarities. In many
family group 1 observed the char
marked. One child with thick lips,
full nose, black complexion and kinky
hair; the next, coarse, black, straight
hair, thin face and brown complexion;
and third, perhaps with fair features
and red hair. There seems to be no
race distinctions. All associate to-
gether upon terms of perfect equality.
The line of caste is rather between the
sexes. Women are regarded as inferior,
and are greatly hampered by social
usage. Boys cease to show any respect
for their mothers or regard their au-
thOrity before they reach their teens,
which destroys family discipline. In
fact, am told there is no such thing
as family discipline. Children are
never governed or punished, though
girls are kept secluded, and until mar
ried are never permitted to meet gen
tlemen except once in while at a pub
lie entertainment There is no court
ship or love-making between young
people. and no marriages which are
the result of mutual attachment. Such
things are arranged by the parents,
and the parties most interested may
perhaps have never seen each other
previous to the wedding. After mar
riage women are somewhat less re-d
stricted. The Brazilians have the rep ]
utation of being very immoral. I can
not say they are not, but L saw Moth
nothing to support the reputation.
One would see far more evidence of
vice and immortality in New York in
the same time.-COr. Christian at Work.
N